Shloka 57
कर्णेन व्यूहविधानम् — Karṇa’s Battle Formation and the Pāṇḍava Counter-Plan
Adhyāya 31
शल्यभूतस्तु शत्रूणां यस्मात्त्वं युधि मानद | तस्माच्छल्यो हि ते नाम कथ्यते पृथिवीतले,“मानद! आप युद्धस्थलमें शत्रुओंके लिये शल्य (काँटे)-के समान हैं, इसीलिये इस भूतलपर आपका शल्य नाम विख्यात है
śalyabhūtastu śatrūṇāṁ yasmāttvaṁ yudhi mānada | tasmācchalyo hi te nāma kathyate pṛthivītale ||
Sañjaya said: “O bestower of honor, because in battle you become like a sharp thorn to your enemies, therefore on this earth you are indeed spoken of by the name ‘Śalya’.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a warrior’s name and fame are grounded in conduct: one who becomes a ‘thorn’ to adversaries through prowess in righteous battle earns a reputation that defines him publicly.
Sañjaya addresses Śalya with the epithet ‘mānada’ and explains the significance of his name: in war he torments and obstructs enemies like a thorn, hence he is known as ‘Śalya’ in the world.